Improvement in picture-exhibitors



C. S. MILLS.

Picture-Exhibitor. i N0. 15920L I v Pa`tentedJan. 26.1875

MI M

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHRISTOPHER S. MILLS, OE STERLING, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO LEONARD B. STARKWEATHER, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PICTURE-EXHIBITORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,201, dated January 26, 1875; application filed May 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER S. MILLS, of the city of Sterling, county of Whitesides and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Photograph-Holders, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to providing a method of holding photographs and other pictures so that such photographs or pictures may be convenient of access and fully protected from becoming soiled.

Figure l is a front view of a machine einbodying my invention.

A A A are three perpendicular cylindrical tubes, in which the photographs are placed. These tubes may be made of glass, metal, leather, paper, or other proper material. Vhen made of any material other than glass, these cylinders are furnished with holes through which the photographs are seen. Each of the tubes A A A is provided with three longitudinal ribs on its inner surface, equidistant from each other, and extending the full length of the tube.

- These ribs have a groove on each side their full length, and when the tube is made of glass these ribs are molded with the tubes. Into these grooves the edges of the pictures are inserted. Each tube is also furnished at each end with a cap,B,which caps are held in place and connected by a rubber cord,D,extending through the center of the tube and attached to the center of the inner surface of each cap. The cap C upon the lower end of each tube has an outside corrugated surface extending around its entire circumference, such corrugations upon each cap ltting into the like corrugations upon the contiguous cap or caps, so that the rotary motion imparted to one of the caps is, by means of such corrugated surfaces, communicated to all of the others. The contraction of the rubber cord holds the caps suficiently tight upon the tubes, so that the rotation of the caps carries the tubes with them. The tubes AA A are pivoted at each end into the plates a a. by means of a wire extending outward from the center of each cap, these wires being, in fact, the axis of the tube. a a are horizontal parallel plates placed above and below the tubes, and in which the axes of the latter are inserted. A screwis cut on the lower end of the axis of the center tube, and upon this is screwed the button b, by the twisting of which button a rotary motion is imparted to the center tube, and, by means of the corrugations aforesaid, communicated to each of the other tubes. The upper plate c is placed sufficiently above the top cap of the tubes A A A, that the latter may be lifted sufficiently high to allow their lower ends to be detached and the tubes thus taken from the frame.

By means of a slide upon the upper surface of the upper plate a any lifting of the tubes during the operation of the machine is prevented, the slide, during the operation of the machine, being pushed over the outer ends of' the axes of the tubes.

When it is desired to place pictures in or take them from a tube, the slide is slipped from over the end of the tube, and the latter is lifted sufficiently high to become detached at the bottom. The bottom of the tube is drawn over the edge of the lower plate a and then downward out of the frame.

The elasticity of the rubber cord connecting the caps is such that the latter may be turned outward parallel with the outside of the tube,

when the pictures may be inserted in or removed from the tube at pleasure, the caps rcadj usted, and the tube replaced.

/Vhen the tubes are made of glass no openings occur in frontof the pictures, but the sides of the tube protect the face of the picture from dust, Snc.; and whenv the tubes 'are of other material a glass setting should be placed in front of each picture.

The machine may be made in a series of three or more tubes.

The corrugated caps may be at either end of the tubes. l

The tubes need not be cylindrical, necessarily, but may be octagonal or of any number of sides.

Friction-rims may be substituted for the cor. rugated surface, but not with the same exactness in operation.

The button b may be attached to any one of the tubes.

The holder is intended to be ornamental, and may be made either to hang to the Wall or stand on a table.

The pictures may be placed in or removed from the tubes Without bringing the hand in contact with the face of the pictures.

rlhe tubes may be made of any diameter or length, and contain any required number of pitnres.

The object in revolving the tubes is to bring all the pictures contained therein in front of the observer, and, the revolutions of all the tubes being` alike, when the pictures upon one side of any tube are brought to the front a corresponding number of pictures in each of the other tubes are brought into a like position.

My invention can also be advantageously used as a receptacle for business-cards, &c.

2. The cylindrical tubes A A A, grooved ribs, caps B, gears C, cords D, supporting plates a a, and operatin g-screW b, all combined and arranged, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHRISTOPHER S. MILLS. Witnesses:

R. L. WILSON, H. C. WARD. 

